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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 1 - February 5
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Feb 5th 2010 at 8:00PM } 
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendation of the Week:
Zombieland (Blu-ray: $39.95, much lower at retailers)
What goes perfectly with Zombieland on Blu-ray? Twinkies. Or Sno Balls, depending which side of the Hostess line you fall on. Although I have to agree with Woody Harrelson on this one: Sno Balls are disgusting. When I first heard about Zombieland, I didn't think I'd care for it much, but it ended up being fairly irresistible. The combination of Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin fighting zombies is a post-apocalyptic, abandoned United States just works extremely well, and it makes you wish you had the same playground to explore. (Zombie-free, of course.) Between Eisenberg's essential rules for zombie survival and an extremely hilarious cameo appearance (don't spoil it for people who haven't seen it yet!) this movie rides the comedy-horror line perfectly. There's also a sweet Zombieland PS3 theme on the disc, just move to the game tab and you'll see it there to download. It's not advertised on the package, but it's a nice extra.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
Recommendation of the Week:
Zombieland (Blu-ray: $39.95, much lower at retailers)What goes perfectly with Zombieland on Blu-ray? Twinkies. Or Sno Balls, depending which side of the Hostess line you fall on. Although I have to agree with Woody Harrelson on this one: Sno Balls are disgusting. When I first heard about Zombieland, I didn't think I'd care for it much, but it ended up being fairly irresistible. The combination of Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin fighting zombies is a post-apocalyptic, abandoned United States just works extremely well, and it makes you wish you had the same playground to explore. (Zombie-free, of course.) Between Eisenberg's essential rules for zombie survival and an extremely hilarious cameo appearance (don't spoil it for people who haven't seen it yet!) this movie rides the comedy-horror line perfectly. There's also a sweet Zombieland PS3 theme on the disc, just move to the game tab and you'll see it there to download. It's not advertised on the package, but it's a nice extra.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, January 25 - January 29
by Kevin Kelly { Jan 29th 2010 at 9:45PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
This writer has been out at Sundance for the past nine days, so week's JBO will be heavily influenced by independent films, past Sundance hits and a bit of the bizarre. Check out the list, and let us know what your favorite indie film is.
Recommendation of the Week:
Cube (DVD $14.98, lower at retailers. Pray for a Blu-ray release)
Director Vincenzo Natali has a new film at Sundance 2010 called Splice. It's a dark science fiction story about genetic manipulation, and you can read all about it right here. However, he first burst onto the scene 13 years ago with his thriller Cube. Seven strangers from completely different walks of life wake up inside a bizarre cube-shaped room, with exit hatches built onto the four walls, the ceiling, and the floor. They have no idea how they got there, or how to get out. Each hatch leads into another, identical room, and some come complete with devious booby traps. But the real movie isn't about the Cube itself, it's about how human psyche unravels when you're stuck in a situation that makes no sense to your brain. After you give this a whirl, move on to his movies Cypher and Nothing for more good stuff.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
This writer has been out at Sundance for the past nine days, so week's JBO will be heavily influenced by independent films, past Sundance hits and a bit of the bizarre. Check out the list, and let us know what your favorite indie film is.
Recommendation of the Week:
Cube (DVD $14.98, lower at retailers. Pray for a Blu-ray release)Director Vincenzo Natali has a new film at Sundance 2010 called Splice. It's a dark science fiction story about genetic manipulation, and you can read all about it right here. However, he first burst onto the scene 13 years ago with his thriller Cube. Seven strangers from completely different walks of life wake up inside a bizarre cube-shaped room, with exit hatches built onto the four walls, the ceiling, and the floor. They have no idea how they got there, or how to get out. Each hatch leads into another, identical room, and some come complete with devious booby traps. But the real movie isn't about the Cube itself, it's about how human psyche unravels when you're stuck in a situation that makes no sense to your brain. After you give this a whirl, move on to his movies Cypher and Nothing for more good stuff.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, January 18 - January 22
by Kevin Kelly { Jan 22nd 2010 at 9:45PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendation of the Week:
The Bourne Trilogy (Blu-ray/SD flipper discs, $24.98 per movie, much lower at retailers)
Flipper discs are back! Remember back when HD-DVD existed, and they'd put a standard def edition of the movie on the flipside of the HD? Universal is bringing it back: Frosted-Blu on one side, regular shredded wheat on the other. Now you'll be able to loan your movies out (blasphemy!) to non Blu-ray owning buddies, or buy the standard definition in the hopes that you'll one day make the upgrade ... maybe when God of War III comes out later this year. The three Bourne movies, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, are the first discs to get the treatment, and both sides are packed with all the same bonus features from previous releases. I watched these again (both sides) recently, and forgot how good they were. Now I'm going to go look at latent images in the hopes of triggering my own forgetting CIA splinter cell training.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
Recommendation of the Week:
The Bourne Trilogy (Blu-ray/SD flipper discs, $24.98 per movie, much lower at retailers)Flipper discs are back! Remember back when HD-DVD existed, and they'd put a standard def edition of the movie on the flipside of the HD? Universal is bringing it back: Frosted-Blu on one side, regular shredded wheat on the other. Now you'll be able to loan your movies out (blasphemy!) to non Blu-ray owning buddies, or buy the standard definition in the hopes that you'll one day make the upgrade ... maybe when God of War III comes out later this year. The three Bourne movies, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, are the first discs to get the treatment, and both sides are packed with all the same bonus features from previous releases. I watched these again (both sides) recently, and forgot how good they were. Now I'm going to go look at latent images in the hopes of triggering my own forgetting CIA splinter cell training.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, January 11 - January 15
by Kevin Kelly { Jan 15th 2010 at 8:00PM } 
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendation of the Week:
The Dungeon Masters ($3.99 three-day rental, $14.99 to purchase, Amazon VOD)
We don't normally include Amazon VOD in this list, simply because it's not (readily) accessible from gaming consoles ... although you can watch it on your Mac or PC. However, I just had to share this movie with you. I was lucky enough to see director Keven McAlester's The Dungeon Masters at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008, and it is finally coming to a screen near you. The documentary chronicles the exploits of three D&D dungeon masters (and one who is also a gamer) and the trials and tribulations of living with their obsession. You can watch the trailer for the movie and pre-order it on Amazon VOD. The bad news? It doesn't come out until February 12. (Buy now, watch later!) The good news? It's amazing. Depressing at times, sure, but a telling and realistic portrait of certain types of gamers. You know the ones. A perfect movie to watch as you bust out the 4th Edition and start rolling.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
Recommendation of the Week:
The Dungeon Masters ($3.99 three-day rental, $14.99 to purchase, Amazon VOD)We don't normally include Amazon VOD in this list, simply because it's not (readily) accessible from gaming consoles ... although you can watch it on your Mac or PC. However, I just had to share this movie with you. I was lucky enough to see director Keven McAlester's The Dungeon Masters at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008, and it is finally coming to a screen near you. The documentary chronicles the exploits of three D&D dungeon masters (and one who is also a gamer) and the trials and tribulations of living with their obsession. You can watch the trailer for the movie and pre-order it on Amazon VOD. The bad news? It doesn't come out until February 12. (Buy now, watch later!) The good news? It's amazing. Depressing at times, sure, but a telling and realistic portrait of certain types of gamers. You know the ones. A perfect movie to watch as you bust out the 4th Edition and start rolling.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, January 4 - January 8, plus Joyswag!
by Kevin Kelly { Jan 8th 2010 at 8:00PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Today we're giving away 5 copies of Moon on Blu-ray, and to enter you just need to leave us a comment telling us what you're watching. Doesn't matter if it's on your PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, iPhone, PC, Mac, or at the theaters.
Recommendation of the Week:
Moon ($37.95 suggested retail, lower at many retailers)
I was lucky enough to see this film at Sundance last year, and it blew me away. Duncan Jones has crafted a science fiction movie without laser beams, massive explosions and space aliens that is as gripping and addicting as 2001 or Alien. Sam Rockwell plays astronaut Sam Bell, the only man on the moon harvesting a rare mineral and living a lonely existence. As always happens in sci-fi movies, something goes wrong and shakes Sam's world up completely. The film looks gorgeous, has an incredible score and a bevy of extras. For an ultimate double-feature, pair this movie with Sunshine, and you have two fantastic sci-fi movies representing orbs in our solar system. We're also giving away five copies of this, so be sure to comment to be entered in the contest. Sony may (sadly) not be backing this movie for an Oscar, but you'll love it.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
Today we're giving away 5 copies of Moon on Blu-ray, and to enter you just need to leave us a comment telling us what you're watching. Doesn't matter if it's on your PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, iPhone, PC, Mac, or at the theaters.
Recommendation of the Week:
Moon ($37.95 suggested retail, lower at many retailers)I was lucky enough to see this film at Sundance last year, and it blew me away. Duncan Jones has crafted a science fiction movie without laser beams, massive explosions and space aliens that is as gripping and addicting as 2001 or Alien. Sam Rockwell plays astronaut Sam Bell, the only man on the moon harvesting a rare mineral and living a lonely existence. As always happens in sci-fi movies, something goes wrong and shakes Sam's world up completely. The film looks gorgeous, has an incredible score and a bevy of extras. For an ultimate double-feature, pair this movie with Sunshine, and you have two fantastic sci-fi movies representing orbs in our solar system. We're also giving away five copies of this, so be sure to comment to be entered in the contest. Sony may (sadly) not be backing this movie for an Oscar, but you'll love it.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you're watching!
JBO: Joystiq Box Office New Year's Edition, plus Joyswag!
by Kevin Kelly { Jan 1st 2010 at 11:00PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Happy New Year, and welcome to the Future! This is the last Joystiq Box Office (for now) where we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES! To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever, and we'll pick two winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we'll be giving away one copy of The Warriors on DVD, along with a Marc Ecko Warriors shirt (size XL), and a code for the game The Warriors: Street Brawl on XBLA, and one copy of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian on Blu-ray. Read the complete rules at the end of this post, and good luck!
Recommendation of the Week:
2010: The Year We Make Contact ($28.99 suggested retail, lower at many retailers)
You saw this one coming, right? Besides The Hangover, this is the perfect movie for today. Even though we don't have passenger-based spaceflight, artificially intelligent megacomputers, or the continuing effects of the Cold War, this is still a quality movie. And for my two cents, it's more exciting than 2001. Don't get me wrong, the original is still a classic, but this one is more of an action movie. The slingshot maneuver, the triumphant return of HAL, the presence of Roy Scheider and Bob Balaban (John Lithgow whines too much in this movie), and a very young Helen Mirren as a Russian combine for unexpected enjoyment. Just check out Scheider's futurstic house, complete with dolphins and his very advanced Apple IIc to see how far we've come.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
Happy New Year, and welcome to the Future! This is the last Joystiq Box Office (for now) where we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES! To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever, and we'll pick two winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we'll be giving away one copy of The Warriors on DVD, along with a Marc Ecko Warriors shirt (size XL), and a code for the game The Warriors: Street Brawl on XBLA, and one copy of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian on Blu-ray. Read the complete rules at the end of this post, and good luck!
Recommendation of the Week:
2010: The Year We Make Contact ($28.99 suggested retail, lower at many retailers)You saw this one coming, right? Besides The Hangover, this is the perfect movie for today. Even though we don't have passenger-based spaceflight, artificially intelligent megacomputers, or the continuing effects of the Cold War, this is still a quality movie. And for my two cents, it's more exciting than 2001. Don't get me wrong, the original is still a classic, but this one is more of an action movie. The slingshot maneuver, the triumphant return of HAL, the presence of Roy Scheider and Bob Balaban (John Lithgow whines too much in this movie), and a very young Helen Mirren as a Russian combine for unexpected enjoyment. Just check out Scheider's futurstic house, complete with dolphins and his very advanced Apple IIc to see how far we've come.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office Holiday Edition, plus Joyswag!
by Kevin Kelly { Dec 25th 2009 at 7:00PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
It's Christmas! So we're going to recommend a slew of holiday movies that might peel you away from your gaming loot, or TBS' all-day Christmas Story marathon, AMC's all-day National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation programming, or even the Spike TV Bad Santa all-day extravaganza. Also, with the holidays in mind, we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES with each Joystiq Box Office post on Friday from today through January 1! Simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever, and we'll pick two winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we'll be giving away one copy of Jim Henson's Labyrinth on Blu-ray, and one copy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray set, complete with pizza box packaging and a beanie! Read the complete rules at the end of this post, and good luck!
Recommendation of the Week:
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang ($34.99 suggested retail, lower at many retailers)
On paper this probably sounded a bit strange: shoddy burglar Robert Downey Jr. solving crimes with a homosexual Val Kilmer? Is that what kept people away? This ended up being one of the better films from both of these actors, and it all opens with a scene at a Christmas party. A pretty unforgettable (and realistic) Christmas party thrown in Hollywood. There aren't a slew of special features included here, except for the commentary track from writer/director Shane Black, and Downey and Kilmer. There's a gag reel thrown in as well, and both of those make this a must-buy. This is a terrific film that many people didn't get a chance to see, and it's well worth picking up. I just wish it had made enough money to spark a sequel.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
It's Christmas! So we're going to recommend a slew of holiday movies that might peel you away from your gaming loot, or TBS' all-day Christmas Story marathon, AMC's all-day National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation programming, or even the Spike TV Bad Santa all-day extravaganza. Also, with the holidays in mind, we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES with each Joystiq Box Office post on Friday from today through January 1! Simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever, and we'll pick two winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we'll be giving away one copy of Jim Henson's Labyrinth on Blu-ray, and one copy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray set, complete with pizza box packaging and a beanie! Read the complete rules at the end of this post, and good luck!
Recommendation of the Week:
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang ($34.99 suggested retail, lower at many retailers)On paper this probably sounded a bit strange: shoddy burglar Robert Downey Jr. solving crimes with a homosexual Val Kilmer? Is that what kept people away? This ended up being one of the better films from both of these actors, and it all opens with a scene at a Christmas party. A pretty unforgettable (and realistic) Christmas party thrown in Hollywood. There aren't a slew of special features included here, except for the commentary track from writer/director Shane Black, and Downey and Kilmer. There's a gag reel thrown in as well, and both of those make this a must-buy. This is a terrific film that many people didn't get a chance to see, and it's well worth picking up. I just wish it had made enough money to spark a sequel.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, December 14 - December 18, plus Joyswag!
by Kevin Kelly { Dec 18th 2009 at 9:15PM }
Welcome to Joystiq's "Naughty or Nice" holiday giveaway extravaganza! It's simple: Just follow the instructions below to enter for your chance to win. Ah, but to win what? There's always a catch, isn't there? Each "Naughty or Nice" giveaway features two prizes: a totally sweet bundle of holiday cheer and, um, a lump of coal. Winners are selected randomly, we assure you. Of course, who's to say luck isn't dependent on virtue ... Have you been naughty? Or nice?
With the holidays in mind, we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES with each Joystiq Box Office post on Friday from today through January 1! Simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever (whether it be naughty or nice) and we'll pick winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we're joining the rest of Joyswag and going Naughty or Nice. Five "Nice" winners will win a copy of District 9 on Blu-ray, which includes the God of War III demo, and one "Naughty" winner will wind up with a copy of the American Godzilla on Blu-ray. [Update: The entry period has closed.]
Recommendation of the Week:
Inglourious Basterds (Blu-ray, $39.95 suggested retail)
If you haven't already seen this film, then you owe it to yourself to check it out in high definition. This is definitely Tarantino's most mature film to date, and despite numerous trailers out there, it's not a gory, Nazi slaughter-fest. There is some violence, to be sure, but I've talked to people who avoided this in theaters because they thought it was going to be torture porn. There's an extremely good film in here, and what's really compelling is that it's nearly two movies in one. The story of the Basterds and the story of a woman who owns a theater run separate courses throughout the film until a head-on collision at the end, but they stand on their own very well. Extremely crisp and sharp in HD and filled with extras, including the bizarre but hilarious "Quentin Tarantino's Camera Angel," this is a must-see, must-own, must-covet title.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
With the holidays in mind, we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES with each Joystiq Box Office post on Friday from today through January 1! Simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever (whether it be naughty or nice) and we'll pick winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we're joining the rest of Joyswag and going Naughty or Nice. Five "Nice" winners will win a copy of District 9 on Blu-ray, which includes the God of War III demo, and one "Naughty" winner will wind up with a copy of the American Godzilla on Blu-ray. [Update: The entry period has closed.]
Recommendation of the Week:
Inglourious Basterds (Blu-ray, $39.95 suggested retail)If you haven't already seen this film, then you owe it to yourself to check it out in high definition. This is definitely Tarantino's most mature film to date, and despite numerous trailers out there, it's not a gory, Nazi slaughter-fest. There is some violence, to be sure, but I've talked to people who avoided this in theaters because they thought it was going to be torture porn. There's an extremely good film in here, and what's really compelling is that it's nearly two movies in one. The story of the Basterds and the story of a woman who owns a theater run separate courses throughout the film until a head-on collision at the end, but they stand on their own very well. Extremely crisp and sharp in HD and filled with extras, including the bizarre but hilarious "Quentin Tarantino's Camera Angel," this is a must-see, must-own, must-covet title.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, December 7 - December 11, plus Joyswag!
by Kevin Kelly { Dec 11th 2009 at 9:30PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
With the holidays in mind, we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES with each Joystiq Box Office post on Friday from today through January 1! Simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever, and we'll pick two winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we'll be giving away one copy of Disney/Pixar's amazing Up and one copy of the romantic comedy The Ugly Truth. Now before you cringe in terror over a Katherine Heigl / Gerard Butler romcom, consider this: It'll make your movie collection look sensitive. Both movies come with an additional digital copy that you can stick on your computer, your PSP, your iPod, what have you. Read the complete rules at the end of this post, and good luck! [Update: The entry period has closed.]
Recommendation of the Week:
The Mel Brooks Collection (Blu-ray, $139.99 suggested retail)
I can't recommend this set highly enough. First of all, it includes nine Mel Brooks films: Twelve Chairs, To Be Or Not To Be, Silent Movie, History of the World: Part 1, High Anxiety, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, many of which are making their Blu-ray debut. Second, it includes a ton of extra features: just the Young Frankenstein disc alone is loaded with tons of fun stuff, including a "Blücher Button" for instant horse whinnying sounds. Third, it's packaged in a long case containing an artbook about all about Mel Brooks and his movies called "All About Mel Brooks." Fourth, it's Mel Brooks, and you need a few laughs in high definition. Amazon has this right now for $92.99, whittling it down to almost ten bucks a movie. You won't be sorry.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
With the holidays in mind, we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES with each Joystiq Box Office post on Friday from today through January 1! Simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever, and we'll pick two winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we'll be giving away one copy of Disney/Pixar's amazing Up and one copy of the romantic comedy The Ugly Truth. Now before you cringe in terror over a Katherine Heigl / Gerard Butler romcom, consider this: It'll make your movie collection look sensitive. Both movies come with an additional digital copy that you can stick on your computer, your PSP, your iPod, what have you. Read the complete rules at the end of this post, and good luck! [Update: The entry period has closed.]
Recommendation of the Week:
The Mel Brooks Collection (Blu-ray, $139.99 suggested retail)I can't recommend this set highly enough. First of all, it includes nine Mel Brooks films: Twelve Chairs, To Be Or Not To Be, Silent Movie, History of the World: Part 1, High Anxiety, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, many of which are making their Blu-ray debut. Second, it includes a ton of extra features: just the Young Frankenstein disc alone is loaded with tons of fun stuff, including a "Blücher Button" for instant horse whinnying sounds. Third, it's packaged in a long case containing an artbook about all about Mel Brooks and his movies called "All About Mel Brooks." Fourth, it's Mel Brooks, and you need a few laughs in high definition. Amazon has this right now for $92.99, whittling it down to almost ten bucks a movie. You won't be sorry.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, November 30 - December 4
by Kevin Kelly { Dec 4th 2009 at 9:00PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendation of the Week:
Star Trek: The Original Series (Blu-ray, all three seasons, prices vary)
All three seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series will be available as of December 15, which is when Season Three comes out. Besides the awesome bloopers and flubs, it also has the entire unaired original Trek pilot in the set. Bizarrely, this was the original opening monologue: "Enterprise log, Captain James Kirk commanding. We are leaving that vast cloud of stars and planets which we call our galaxy. Behind us, Earth, Mars, Venus, even our sun are specks of dust. A question: What is out there in the black void beyond? Until now, our mission has been that of space law regulation, contact with Earth colonies and investigation of alien life. But now, a new task. A probe out into where no man has gone before." Seems like a good thing they changed it. "A probe out into" is a bit much. Trek has never, ever looked or sounded (there's a new 7.1 mix!) better, and you can pick this up in a box set, or get the individual seasons. Beam us up.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
Recommendation of the Week:
Star Trek: The Original Series (Blu-ray, all three seasons, prices vary)All three seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series will be available as of December 15, which is when Season Three comes out. Besides the awesome bloopers and flubs, it also has the entire unaired original Trek pilot in the set. Bizarrely, this was the original opening monologue: "Enterprise log, Captain James Kirk commanding. We are leaving that vast cloud of stars and planets which we call our galaxy. Behind us, Earth, Mars, Venus, even our sun are specks of dust. A question: What is out there in the black void beyond? Until now, our mission has been that of space law regulation, contact with Earth colonies and investigation of alien life. But now, a new task. A probe out into where no man has gone before." Seems like a good thing they changed it. "A probe out into" is a bit much. Trek has never, ever looked or sounded (there's a new 7.1 mix!) better, and you can pick this up in a box set, or get the individual seasons. Beam us up.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, November 23 - November 27
by Kevin Kelly { Nov 27th 2009 at 9:00PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendation of the Week:
Food, Inc. (Xbox 360/Zune Video)
You cram food in your mouth every day, but do you ever really think about where it comes from? This is especially timely a day after the American holiday that's all about stuffing as much food as you possibly can down your gullet and surviving. Food, Inc. takes a hard look at the corporate food industry in America, and you'll be surprised how many different labels and brands are owned by so few companies. It'll make you think twice about buying food in the future, or even finishing what's already on your plate. Hopefully someone will make a documentary about Joel Salatin, a rancher in the film who you'll write off as a redneck at first glance, but who quickly becomes one of the sole voices of wisdom in the movie. This guy needs to take over the entire FDA.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
Recommendation of the Week:
Food, Inc. (Xbox 360/Zune Video)You cram food in your mouth every day, but do you ever really think about where it comes from? This is especially timely a day after the American holiday that's all about stuffing as much food as you possibly can down your gullet and surviving. Food, Inc. takes a hard look at the corporate food industry in America, and you'll be surprised how many different labels and brands are owned by so few companies. It'll make you think twice about buying food in the future, or even finishing what's already on your plate. Hopefully someone will make a documentary about Joel Salatin, a rancher in the film who you'll write off as a redneck at first glance, but who quickly becomes one of the sole voices of wisdom in the movie. This guy needs to take over the entire FDA.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, November 16 - November 20
by Kevin Kelly { Nov 20th 2009 at 9:15PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendation of the Week:
North by Northwest: 50th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
It's been 50 years since Alfred Hitchcock's classic North by Northwest first appeared in theaters, and Warner Bros. has put together an amazing package that includes a new one hour documentary about Hitchcock called "The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style," and a new half-hour documentary about the film itself. It also carries over older extras like a documentary about Cary Grant, commentary and more. It's packaged in the Warner Blu-ray Book format that I loathed at first, but now love: No inserts or booklets to lose, and they look fantastic on a shelf. You've probably seen the iconic image of Cary Grant running in terror from a biplane, but never seen North by Northwest. For my money, it's his best film.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
Recommendation of the Week:
North by Northwest: 50th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)It's been 50 years since Alfred Hitchcock's classic North by Northwest first appeared in theaters, and Warner Bros. has put together an amazing package that includes a new one hour documentary about Hitchcock called "The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style," and a new half-hour documentary about the film itself. It also carries over older extras like a documentary about Cary Grant, commentary and more. It's packaged in the Warner Blu-ray Book format that I loathed at first, but now love: No inserts or booklets to lose, and they look fantastic on a shelf. You've probably seen the iconic image of Cary Grant running in terror from a biplane, but never seen North by Northwest. For my money, it's his best film.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, November 9 - November 13
by Kevin Kelly { Nov 13th 2009 at 8:35PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendation of the Week:
The Office: Series One (Netflix Watch Instantly)
While everyone was quick to sneer at the American version of The Office on NBC and say "Oh, it's not as good as the original," that new show has gone a long way towards proving itself. However, they're right ... it's still not as good as the original. Now the entire British run of The Office is available on Netflix. If you haven't seen it yet, dive in here with the entire first series, then move on to Series Two and the Specials. Ricky Gervais hasn't struck box office gold yet in America (his movies Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying have fallen a bit flat), but The Office is more than good enough to make up for it.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
Recommendation of the Week:
The Office: Series One (Netflix Watch Instantly)While everyone was quick to sneer at the American version of The Office on NBC and say "Oh, it's not as good as the original," that new show has gone a long way towards proving itself. However, they're right ... it's still not as good as the original. Now the entire British run of The Office is available on Netflix. If you haven't seen it yet, dive in here with the entire first series, then move on to Series Two and the Specials. Ricky Gervais hasn't struck box office gold yet in America (his movies Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying have fallen a bit flat), but The Office is more than good enough to make up for it.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, November 2 - November 6
by Kevin Kelly { Nov 6th 2009 at 8:30PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendation of the Week:
The Shield: The Complete Series (DVD [What, no Blu-ray?] $159.95, lower at many retailers)
Vic Mackey isn't the first hardass cop to come down the line and smack miscreants into place, but he's definitely one of the most effective and most memorable. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching Michael Chiklis in The Shield, then this has your name all over it. If you have ... well, your name is still on it. It's the complete series, filled with extras, and packaged to look like a nifty coffee table book, embossed with a copy of the misaligned badge logo from the opening of the show. Forget everything else, this is hands down one of the best cop shows ever created, and it captures the underbelly of Los Angeles perfectly. Some people would argue that Los Angeles is all underbelly. Hopefully that means there's plenty of Mackey to go around.
As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
Recommendation of the Week:
The Shield: The Complete Series (DVD [What, no Blu-ray?] $159.95, lower at many retailers)Vic Mackey isn't the first hardass cop to come down the line and smack miscreants into place, but he's definitely one of the most effective and most memorable. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching Michael Chiklis in The Shield, then this has your name all over it. If you have ... well, your name is still on it. It's the complete series, filled with extras, and packaged to look like a nifty coffee table book, embossed with a copy of the misaligned badge logo from the opening of the show. Forget everything else, this is hands down one of the best cop shows ever created, and it captures the underbelly of Los Angeles perfectly. Some people would argue that Los Angeles is all underbelly. Hopefully that means there's plenty of Mackey to go around.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, October 26 - October 30, Horror Edition!
by Kevin Kelly { Oct 30th 2009 at 9:00PM }
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.
Halloween looms right around the corner! In preparation for a spook-tacular weekend full of fun and frights, we present you with an all-horror edition of Joystiq Box Office. Although in all honesty, nothing tops Trick 'r Treat from a couple of weeks ago. You owe it to Halloween to check that out. Of course, being the geeks that we are, we'd also like to remind you that Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is now out on Blu-ray, DVD, PSN, and the Xbox Marketplace. It's not their best work, but hey ... it's more Battlestar Galactica!
Recommendation of the Week:
Monsturd (Netflix Watch Instantly)
Yes, this is seriously a movie. A fugitive on the run accidentally falls into a sewage tunnel, which is also where a chemical company has been dumping their toxic waste. As a result, he becomes Monsturd: half-man, half-poop. I kid you not. There have been poop monsters in movies before, like the transformed Chet in Weird Science and the Golgathan from Kevin Smith's Dogma, but nothing compares to Monsturd. It's actually not a bad send-up of the classic 50s frightfilms, and the tagline for the movie is "Don't get caught with your pants down!" How can you go wrong?
A lot of you have been asking about the pricing on certain Xbox releases. For instance Red Cliff is 800
($10) to rent in standard definition, as opposed to the normal rental price of 320 ($4) for SD. The reason for this is that it has not yet been released in theaters, and is exclusive to the Xbox 360, Amazon, and certain VOD outlets. The film actually opens on November 18, so the added price is for the benefit of seeing it early.
As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
Halloween looms right around the corner! In preparation for a spook-tacular weekend full of fun and frights, we present you with an all-horror edition of Joystiq Box Office. Although in all honesty, nothing tops Trick 'r Treat from a couple of weeks ago. You owe it to Halloween to check that out. Of course, being the geeks that we are, we'd also like to remind you that Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is now out on Blu-ray, DVD, PSN, and the Xbox Marketplace. It's not their best work, but hey ... it's more Battlestar Galactica!
Recommendation of the Week:
Monsturd (Netflix Watch Instantly)Yes, this is seriously a movie. A fugitive on the run accidentally falls into a sewage tunnel, which is also where a chemical company has been dumping their toxic waste. As a result, he becomes Monsturd: half-man, half-poop. I kid you not. There have been poop monsters in movies before, like the transformed Chet in Weird Science and the Golgathan from Kevin Smith's Dogma, but nothing compares to Monsturd. It's actually not a bad send-up of the classic 50s frightfilms, and the tagline for the movie is "Don't get caught with your pants down!" How can you go wrong?
A lot of you have been asking about the pricing on certain Xbox releases. For instance Red Cliff is 800
($10) to rent in standard definition, as opposed to the normal rental price of 320 ($4) for SD. The reason for this is that it has not yet been released in theaters, and is exclusive to the Xbox 360, Amazon, and certain VOD outlets. The film actually opens on November 18, so the added price is for the benefit of seeing it early. 
